Last season was Cal Poly women's basketball coach Faith Mimnaugh's last–and she went out with a bang, retiring as the program's winningest coach in 2022. Before her retirement, Mimnaugh was (and still is) Loyola-Chicago's all-time assist leader with 1,000 career total assists and is a member of the Loyola Hall of Fame Member and the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. If that's not impressive enough, her 51 All-Conference team players, 11 all-freshman honor recipients, and, 13 all-tournament selections, and 50 player-of-the-week recipients can surely vouch for her coaching skills.
If you want to get on the radar of someone like Faith Mimnaugh, read on for her best recruiting tips.
What is the most important quality you look for in a recruit?
Speed of [the] player.
Related: Want Your Recruiting Process to Be a Slam Dunk? 5 Tips for Basketball Recruits
What is the best way for a recruit to get on your radar?
Be a strong student, and initiate contact.
When should an athlete contact you, what is the best way? (age, grade, time of year, email, phone, or other)
Junior year. Early September. Email or phone.
What are your expectations for incoming players in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the court?
Looking for prospects 3.5 GPA or higher, SAT scores above 550 in English and Math. We love workers and quick decision-makers who are relentless.
What are the do's and don'ts of being recruited?
Contact coach yourself, not your parents. Follow through on everything asked of you. Don't limit your options too early. Many great opportunities are available if you expand your mind.
What is the best advice you can offer a recruit?
Be respectful and honest always. Thank each college coach that shows interest in you.
Related: Want to Stand Out? The Top 5 Characteristics Recruiters Look For In Athletes
What really jumps out to you when reviewing a recruit's highlight tape?
Hustle plays, defensive intensity, speed of decision and speed of athlete.
What are the main do's and don'ts for a recruit's highlight tape?
Keep it under 8 min. Show your best attributes, but try to display all skills: 3's, ball handling, passing, defense, rebounding, shooting, layups, free throw form.
When do you recommend recruits put together and share their highlight reels? Is it best to make their highlight reel during the offseason, in the middle of season, or after each game?
I like to see a player several times. Send a highlight about once a month. I don't want to just see a workout.
What advice do you have for recruits who get turned down by their dream schools? What are their options if they don't gain the recruiting attention they desire?
Make sure that your game warrants a college scholarship [and] invest time and effort into improving. Every team needs a great teammate and a player that has a special skill…3 point shooting, dribbling through a press, blowing past defenders, hawking the ball handler constantly.
Related: Hoop Dreams: 7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player
How big a factor is social media when recruiting players? What advice do you have for athletes regarding social media?
Pretend you are interviewing for a job with each post.
Have a story idea or know an awesome athlete/coach we should interview? Email us at [email protected]
Image Credit: Cal Poly Athletics
* Originally published on March 13, 2023, by 2aDays Staff
